Puzzle



M. S. RENN ET AL March 18, 1969 PUZZLE Filed Feb. 11, 1966 I N VENT OR M4050: flaw/V /V'/L ,Z 65w BY ATTORNEY March 18, 1969 5, RENN ET AL PUZZLE Sheet i of Filed Feb. 11, 1966 INVENTOR M4051 Mae- 6. 96w

44-74 Few/v ATTORNEY United States Patent G 3,433,485 PUZZLE Madeline S. Renn and Neil R. Renn, both of 3200 Old Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, Pa. 17011 Filed Feb. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 526,906 US. Cl. 273157 1 Claim Int. Cl. A63f 9/10 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jigsaw puzzle having a pair of frames with a transparent member arranged therebetween, and a plurality of picture pieces adapted to be assembled to form a composite picture scene. A bracket maintains the frame in an upright position, and a mirror is positioned such that the person assembling the puzzle can view indicia on the back of said pieces.

This invention relates to a puzzle, and more particularly to a puzzle of the jigsaw type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle which includes a pair of frames which have a transparent sheet or member interposed or laminated therebetween, and whereby a plurality of picture pieces are adapted to be assembled to provide a composite picture scene thereon.

A further object is to provide a jigsaw puzzle of the type stated wherein there is provided a base which has support members detachably or pivotally connected thereto, and wherein in one position the support members are adapted to support a frame unit in which the playing pieces can be assembled, the frame unit being provided with a transparent sheet which permits a person to observe the back side of the playing pieces by means of a mirror which is suitably and conveniently mounted rearwardly of the frame unit.

Still another object is to provide such a jigsaw puzzle that is economical to manufacture and which is rugged in structure, and further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one use or application of the puzzle of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the puzzle assembled.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the frame unit mounted in the support members on the base and having the mirror rearwardly thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the frame unit removed and with the parts in folded or collapsed position.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a frame unit which includes a pair of spaced parallel frame members 21 which each have an irregular interior contour as indicated by the numeral 22, FIGURE 1. There is further provided a plurality of picture pieces 23 which are complemental to each other and to said 3,433,485 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 interior contour 22, and the picture pieces 23 are adapted to be assembled to form a composite picture. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2, the pieces 23 may be assembled to form a scene or composite picture 24 which depicts or shows apples thereon, while in FIGURE 3, there is illustrated a composite picture or scene 25 which may be provided by interlocking and interfitting the pieces 23, and the picture 25 may show an apple pie or the like. Thus, the picture pieces 23 are adapted to have picture scenes on both sides thereof.

The numeral 26 indicates a transparent sheet or memher which is interposed between the pair of frame members 21, and the transparent sheet 26 is secured to the frame members 21 or laminated therebetween.

Attention is directed to FIGURE 4 of the drawing wherein there is illustrated a support unit which is indicated generally by the numeral 27, and the support unit 27 may include a base member 28 which has a pair of body pieces or members 29 hingedly connected thereto as at 30. The body members 29 may consist of portions or pieces 31, 32 and 33 which are suitably secured together or formed integral with each other. As shown in FIGURE 6, the pieces or bracket portions 33 are provided with longitudinally extending grooves 34 for snugly and slidably receiving therein side portions of the frame members 21.

The numeral 35 indicates a mirror which is of a suitable size and construction, and the mirror 35 is adapted to be arranged contiguous to or adjacent to the rear portion of the base member 28. The mirror 35 may be supported in any suitable manner, and for example the mirror 35 may be connected to an upstanding leg 36 through the medium of a swivel joint 37, and the leg 36 may be hingedly or pivotally connected to a lug 39 as at 38. The lug 39 may be suitably aflixed to the base member 28 by means of one or more securing elements 40.

In FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a further application of the present invention wherein a paint brush 41 may be used for painting the pieces 23, and such pieces may have numbers or numerals 42 thereon so that the pieces can be painted by the user in accordance with paint by the numbers instructions or the like so as to provide increased amusement and recreation and education for the person using the present invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a puzzle which is adapted to be used for providing amusement and recreation as well as education for the users, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be noted that the puzzle can be worked so as to interlock the playing pieces 23 in the proper formation so as to form a composite picture such as the picture 24. The pieces 23 are adapted to fit within one of the frame members 21, and when the device is being used in this manner, the transparent sheet 26 can function as a backing member for the playing pieces or picture pieces 23. The picture pieces 23 are adapted to have picture scenes on both sides thereof. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2 the picture pieces 23 can be arranged to form a composite picture such as a picture of apples as indicated by the numeral 24. Or, by turning the pieces 23 over on their opposite side, they can be interlocked and put together in a manner to form a different picture which may be complemental to the picture 24. Such a complemental picture is shown in FIGURE 3 wherein for example a picture of an apple pie as indicated by the numeral 25 is shown.

If desired, the pizzle can be used in conjunction with an assembly such as that shown in FIGURE 4. Thus, the assembly of FIGURE 4 includes a support unit 27 which consists of a suitable base member 28 that may have elements 29 hingedly or detachably connected thereto, and when the elements 29 are in their upright positions as shown in FIGURE 3, the elongated grooves 34 snugly and slidably receive therein the side edge portions of the frame unit 20. With the parts in the position of FIGURES 3 and 5 for example, so that the mirror 35 is in its raised or upright position, a person can conveniently work the puzzle and it will be noted that due to the provision of the transparent sheet 26, that the user can look through the transparent member 26 onto the mirror 35 so that the back portion of the picture pieces 23 will be readily in view so that as a person is completing a picture such as the picture 25, the person can view the complemental picture in the mirror 35 and thus the puzzle can function as a two-in-one puzzle, to provide increased pleasure and recreation.

The parts shown in FIGURE 4 may be readily pivoted or moved to a collapsed position so that the device of FIGURE 4 will occupy a minimum amount of space for storage and shipment. In addition, the unit of FIGURE 4 need only be purchased or obtained once, since various different puzzles can be used or worked on the same unit 27.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as desired or required.

With the present invention the pictures on one side of the puzzle are adapted to be correlated to the picture on the opposite side thereof. The jigsaw puzzle of the present invention can be used for educational as well as recreational purposes and can be used and assembled by persons who are ill or confined in hospitals and the like. Each of the picture pieces 23 has formed on respective sides thereof printed or otherwise formed portions of composite pictures. The thickness of the pieces 23 is the same as the thickness of a frame member 21 so that the assembled puzzle will have a smooth top surface. When using the device of FIGURES 3 and 5, the completed puzzle will be conveniently supported in the grooves. Also, due to the sliding fit of the frame in the grooves 34, the frame unit can be removed and then turned over so as to present the opposite side to the viewer or user.

The transparent sheet 25 may be made of a suitable material such as a clear acetate type of plastic. The frame portion 21 may be made of a suitable material such as cardboard. As shown in FIGURE 1, the pieces 23 may be numbered as at 42 so that the pieces can be painted on each side, as for example by means of a paint-brush 41. The mirror 35 may be pivotally supported as at 38, and the element 38 may consist of a thumbscrew arrangement which can be loosened or tightened to permit the mirror support to be raised or lowered as desired. With the frame unit in place in the grooved members 33, a person can look through the transparent sheet 26 and observe the reflection in the mirror 35 so that two puzzles can be worked at the same time. That is, as a picture such as the picture 25 is being made, at the same time the person can look through the transparent sheet 26 and observe the back side of the pieces 23 so that a picture such as the picture 24 can be observed in the mirror 35. a

The device 54 may be of the collapsible type or of the knockdown type. Also it is only necessary to purchase or obtain the assembly of FIGURE 4 one time inasmuch as this unit 27 will serve for all puzzles of that size. The mirror 35 may be of polished aluminum and can be the same size as the puzzle unit 20. The mirror is of the adjustable type so that the user has the option of either working the puzzle as a single unit, or else the mirror can be moved to raised position to permit two puzzles to be completed at the same time as previously stated. Also, in some instances the device can be made or sold without using any mirror in connection therewith. The puzzles may consist of a pair of correlated scenes or pictures which have very similar coloring to increase the difficulty needed to work the puzzles. Various types of correlated pictures can be used or provided, and for example a picture of the President of the United States may be on one side thereof, while a picture of the Presidents wife or first lady may be on the other side thereof.

The puzzle with or without the aid or use of the mirror is adapted to afford many hours of fascination and pleasure for the user. As shown in FIGURE 1 the jigsaw pieces 23 may be painted on each side according to suitably supplied directions, and after the sides have dried sufficiently, they can be fitted into their proper places within the jigsaw picture frame. The present invention will appeal to persons of various ages and will provide relaxation and recreation for such users. While the present invention has been described previously as using correlated scenes or picture, it is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to such correlated pictures and any suitable scenes or pictures can be utilized.

Also, the present invention is especially suitable for use by persons who are convalescing, and the device is relaxing, stimulating and enlightening in connection with rehabilitation programs and the like. The muscular effort or exercise required in working the puzzle is believed especially beneficial to those who are ill or confined in hospitals and the like, and in addition it is believed that therapy will be provided to sick or other people due to the fact that the need to concentrate on working the puzzle will be beneficial to such persons especially from the standpoint of their mental outlook. In addition the puzzle can be used as an educational aid for teaching children and the like inasmuch as various types of historically significant pictures can be made, and by using proper scenes or pictures on the puzzles, children can be aided in learning to read, and by using graphic tests or scenes of the proper type, police authorities and the like can be aided in curbing juvenile delinquency. Also, by making the picture pieces of a proper construction, blind or partially blind people can be able to utilize the present invention. In addition, nursery rhymes, stories and the like can be depicted on the puzzle. Also, the puzzles can be used in conjunction with nursery rhymes, fairy tales and the like so that one or more persons may assemble the pieces as a song is being sung to increase the pleasure and usefulness thereof. Furthermore, the scenes can be used to depict or represent persons in sports, as well as ball parks, pennants, various types of games and the like.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the foregoing description without departing from the spirit and nature of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A jigsaw puzzle comprising a frame unit including a pair of spaced parallel frame members, each frame member having an irregular interior contour, a plurality of picture pieces complemental to each other and to said interior contour adapted to be assembled to form a composite picture, a transparent sheet positioned between said pair of frame members and secured to said frame members, said picture pieces having a portion of a picture scene on both sides thereof, and said picture pieces when assembled provide two independent pictures, a support unit including a horizontally disposed base member, a pair of body elements hingedly connected to said base member, brackets on said body members, said brackets each having longitudinally extending grooves therein for snugly and slidably receiving therein side portions of said frame members, and a mirror adjustably mounted adjacent the rear of the base member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,449 10/ 1910 Merrow. 1,518,680 12/1924 Arnot --26 X 1,987,695 I/ 1935 McDonald.

(Other references on following page) 5 6 2,506,189 5/1950 Attridge 273157 1,016,200 1/1966 Great Britain. 2,875,531 3/1959 Mansfield 273157 X P FOREIGN PATENTS ANTON O. OECHSLE, rzmary Exammel.

607,324 8/1948 Great Britain. U.S. C1.X.R. 633,951 12/1949 Great Britain. 5 35--26 

